Gadget Metro

After two years, Apple Corp. finally decided to settle a lawsuit. This lawsuit has something to do with their music player the iPod among other things. Burst.com. was its legal opponent and the settlement had a lot of issues on hand that would remake the two companies slightly now.

Burst alleged that Apple infringed four patents for transmission of compressed audio and video files in iPod, iTunes, Life and QuickTime. Two years ago Burst.com asked Apple to license some of its patents, saying they were very vital to the iPod. In January of 2006, Apple sued Burst.com, seeking a judgment that the Burst.com patents were invalid and not infringed. Burst.com countersued, accusing Apple of infringing four Burst.com patents.

Now, Apple will pay Burst.com $10 million and get access to its patent portfolio. Apple will not have access to four of Burst.com’s current and pending patents. Court costs, expenses and attorney’s fees will reduce the proceeds to Burst.com to $4.6 million. Burst agreed not to sue Apple over current or pending DVR patentsÂ

After two years of litigation, they can finally move on, particularly Apple. Of course, they also have other cases to look into…

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Apple Corp., Burst.com, iPod, iTunes, Life, QuickTime

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